SystemUpdatePolicy API update behavior

Environment

• Android Enterprise
• EMM

Overview

On your devices where the SystemUpdatePolicy API is set to TYPE_INSTALL_AUTOMATIC, any system updates downloaded are installed as soon as they’re available. However, it’s not part of the API’s functionality to both download and install updates. The API only installs updates as soon as they’re downloaded.

Cause

When you set SystemUpdatePolicy to TYPE_INSTALL_AUTOMATIC in your EMM, your devices will immediately install any downloaded updates that are available for installation. You won’t be able to postpone the installation. However, part of Samsung’s firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) concept is to allow the device user to pause downloads to avoid overage billing, including system update downloads.

Accordingly, on Samsung devices, while the SystemUpdatePolicy API installs updates as soon as they’re downloaded, firmware update downloads can be paused. The API itself doesn’t force the device to download updates — it can only install downloaded updates.

Resolution

If you need to prevent device users from pausing firmware downloads and force their devices to update, please enroll your devices into Knox E-FOTA, which allows you to manage how your devices handle firmware updates.